Tangled webs - Elaine Cunningham [158]
"Here, now," ibn protested. "There's no call for that. I don't like elves now any more than ever i did. And stop whirling around like a cider-drunk bee when there's work to be done!"
Together they sought out Fyodor, for only a warrior could call a Thing. When the village had gathered, ibn told the council of the meeting he had witnessed between Dagmar and the long-haired sea elf, and of the damning words he had heard her speak to the drow. At Fyodor's insistence, they allowed Liriel to speak. She told them of the three warships that had attacked the Elfmaid, and showed them the ring that had been taken from the severed hand of the leader-the ring that marked him as one of the five High Captains of Luskan. Aumark exanined the ring and pronounced it genuine, and even admitted that he recognized the man from the drow's description: Rethnor, an ambitious, black-bearded giant of a man who held even less love for Ruathym than most of his fellows.
After a moment's stunned silence, the men began to plan for the coming attack. Liriel was content to listen, for the Ruathen were no strangers to war, and the battle chieftains' strategy was sufficient to meet the tlreat from Luskan. To the proud Northmen, Luskan was the true enemy, and the strange sea creatures merely tools. Defeat the Luskan ships in sea battle, they believed, and all else would fall into place.
Liriel knew differently, for she herself had pledged to open the door that would allow the powers of Ascarle to invade the island-and that would enable her to free the slaves held captive in the underground stronghold. She could not seek Fyodor's help, for she dared not expose hinD to the power she would have to channel before the portal could be opened.
And so the drow left the warriors to their plans and made her way down to the cove. Again she called for Xzorsh. When the sea elf came to her summons, she described the submerged city and the forces she had seen within.
"i'So Ascarle truly exists, and the merrow are based there," the ranger murmured. "You are right; this danger must be eliminated. I will gather as many sea-elven warriors as i can muster-along with some triton volunteers, if such can be persuaded-and advance on the Purple Rocks at once!"
"At least, that's the word you'll send through the Relay," Liriel agreed. "Let the forces of Ascarle prepare for an assault from the sea beyond their city walls. Secretly, you will gather your forces by the shores of inthar and await my word. I will send you through the portal into the city itselЈ But take care: ifword of this gets to Sittl, all is lost." Xzorsh still looked doubtful. "i'Perhaps you misunderstood what he said to the Northwoman."
The drow hissed in exasperation. "i'if you refuse to listen to reason, perhaps you'll respond to a deal: keep the plan secret, and i will see that you get your magical training!" Joy flared briefly in the sea elf's eyes; then a rueful smile crossed his face. "All my life i have waited to hear such words. Even so, i would give up this chance gladly to see you proved wrong. Sittl is a friend, and his trust is worth more to me than magic."
Liriel turned away, stung by the elf's wistful words and his willingness to give up his dream rather than betray the values he held dear. Despite all that had happened to the drow and to those she loved, she knew that she herself would not do likewise.
"i'do as i say, and prepare for your battle," she snarled, and as she walked away she added in a whisper too soft for the elf to hear, "and leave me to mine."
Before facing her deadly foe-and her even more dangerous ally-Liriel had one task to complete. She had stopped wearing the Windwalker amulet after the night she and Fyodor had spent at the foot ofYggsdrasil's